Friday, December 5th, 2025
Good morning, Jackson. Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 5th of December.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Jackson Fire Department has launched its annual Christmas toy drive to collect toys for children in need this holiday season. Donations are accepted at 21 fire stations from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. until Dec. 18 and at select Walmart locations on Dec. 9, 11, 16, and 18. WAPT
- ➤ A Jackson firefighter won a new roof for his home on Dec. 4 after a local contest recognized his service. Roof installation is set to start soon in Jackson — a testament to community support for first responders. WLBT News
- ➤ Local residents in Jackson are working to provide motel rooms for homeless people for three nights during Christmas through the Meet You There nonprofit — aiming to house 150 individuals by raising $3,000. The effort, which helped over 100 people last year, shows strong community support during the holiday season. FOX 40
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Jackson Public Schools launched Project 75 mid-November to boost third graders' state test scores from 55% to 75% by providing targeted support and extra tutoring. The initiative will offer teachers additional training and closely track student progress + adjust help based on performance data. Mississippi Today
- ➤ Jackson Public Schools hosted its 46th annual All-City Music Festival — an event showcasing elementary students' musical talents — at Forest Hill High School on Thursday night. The event drew hundreds of families, staff, alumni, and neighbors. WAPT
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Street preacher Gabriel Olivier asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Dec. 3 to reopen his case after he was fined in 2021 for preaching outside a concert venue in Brandon. His lawyer argued that prior enforcement should not bar him from protecting his free speech rights in the future. Mississippi Free Press
- ➤ Federal agents are raiding areas in Mississippi and Louisiana today as part of a major crackdown, and the Mississippi Immigrations Rights Alliance is coordinating legal and educational support & compiling a list of local organizations to help affected individuals. WAPT
- ➤ On Thursday, fifteen people from eight countries took the oath at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi (joining over 348 million Americans) as they became American citizens, marking a milestone for families seeking opportunity. FOX 40
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ The Mississippi State Department of Health released flu data from Nov. 22 showing a drop in flu-like illness rates to 2.6% from 3.6% the previous week plus 136 whooping cough cases, mostly affecting children and young people. WAPT
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ MAIS released punishments after a fight at the Class 4A state title game. Brookhaven coaches were fined $1,000 each and barred from events until Brookhaven’s 2026 football season while an unnamed player was banned for 2025-2026 and Lamar was fined $500 and placed on probation. FOX 40
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Ugly Sweater Pub Crawl in Jackson
4:30-9 p.m. — Library Lounge — 25% OFF with code UGLY25 — Don your ugliest sweater and enjoy a festive night of drinks and holiday cheer in Downtown Jackson.
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Liam St. John Live Concert
7:30-9:00 p.m. — Duling Hall Live Music & Events — Tickets $25.30 ($30.45 day of) — Experience an evening of blues and rock with 'The Voice' contestant Liam St. John.
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Chess Class at Alexander Library
4-6:30 p.m. — Margaret Walker Alexander Library — Free entry — Explore the fundamentals and strategies of chess in a friendly environment.
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Santa Zoo Station
10 a.m.–1 p.m. — The Jackson Zoo — Timed tickets required — A festive holiday extravaganza filled with crafting, photos with Santa, and family fun awaits.
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HEADCANNON Live Performance
8:00 – 9:30 PM — Hal & Mal's — $15 — Experience an electrifying night with HEADCANNON and friends, featuring a unique tattoo pop-up.
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Cecily Wilborn Live Concert
7-10:30 p.m. — Mississippi Coliseum — Tickets available — Experience a Southern Soul party with music and dance in Jackson.
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Happy Landing Live Performance
8-9:30 p.m. — Duling Hall Live Music & Events — Ticket prices vary — Experience an energetic folk rock concert from the rising band hailing from Oxford, Mississippi.
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TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
The beauty of a living thing is not the atoms that go into it, but the way those atoms are put together.
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